The numbers are staggering. As of Sept. 17, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instituted 3,015 administrative and criminal investigations and issued 2,393 Notices of Inspection for Form I-9 compliance in 2011. That’s a 375 percent increase from 2008.

It’s no secret that the construction industry has experienced tough years. If declining revenues have hurt your business, what about a six-figure fine? Or even worse – a steep fine coupled with criminal indictments of the owner and the people involved in hiring and supervising employees? Regardless of your company’s financial performance, mitigating the risks of noncompliance is an absolute necessity.